Here is a page from a university website that tells you what to do to raise crickets.
Hope it helps!
These insects can be reared with a minimum of care in metal containers such as garbage cans, lard cans or metal-lined boxes. Containers about 2' deep and 15" wide can support about 200 crickets. The inside of the container should be smoothed 8" or 9" inches from the top by sandpapering and waxing or applying a thin coating of white oil or vaseline to prevent escape.
A 4" to 6" layer of clean, damp sand is placed in the bottom of the container where the eggs can be laid. Some people prefer sawdust instead of sand because it holds moisture better. However, sawdust can contain small insects that can become a problem. Keep small paper cylinders such as empty paper towel rolls in the cage to provide hiding places and protection for the young crickets.
To start rearing, obtain crickets from dealers or catch them from under boards, stones or decaying vegetation. Select only healthy active crickets to start the colony. About 25 crickets (half males and half females) are needed. The female has a very long egglaying tube at the end of her body.
Provide a continuous supply of water with a chick waterer or large vials plugged with cotton. The chick waterer saucer should be filled with cotton to prevent the young insects from drowning. The crickets must be fed occasionally. Chicken laying mash is a very satisfactory food. Place the food in a shallow container. About two pounds of mash are required to raise 100 crickets. Keep food away from the water source so that it will remain dry.
For best cricket reproduction and growth, keep the rearing container at 85° F. by suspending a lighted bulb inside the container. A few trials with bulbs of different wattage and raising and lowering the bulb will give the proper heating requirements. Cricket rearing may be slowed down or stopped entirely by lowering the temperature to about 50° F.
Inspect crickets frequently and remove dead crickets regularly. At least once a month remove the crickets and wash the cage with soap and hot water. Rinse it thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before use. Several hours of sun drying is preferable. Good sanitation practices are essential. Keep at least two separate colonies to reduce the chances of disease wiping out all of your insects. Do not use insecticides around your crickets. They are very susceptible to these products.
Crickets are in the order Orthoptera which also contains cockroaches, praying mantids, grasshoppers, and walking sticks. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with three distinct stages - egg, nymph, and adult. The eggs are about 3/32" long and very thin. They may be found in the sand on the cage bottom. Nymphs look like the adults but are smaller and do not have fully developed wings.
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